Real Or Fake?

[1515Art]

anyone want to guess?

I never really thought to much about this chunk of blue rock until Mitchel posted the link for the natural science auction and I spotted the Chinese turquoise in the catalog. Holding the stone it feels hard enough my biggest concern is it looks too good? Doing some research died Howlite is often substituted for turquoise, the test that was recommended was to rub an area with cotton soaked in nail polish remover looking for any transfer of dye to the cotton or color change in the stone, doing this test the color was stable and no blue transferred to the cotton. Running a finger nail over the spider webbing another test I can feel a slight ridge as I am supposed to and the color under magnification looks natural. The close-up is using 10x on my phone looking through a 10x loop under magnification the matrix looks less black and more of a rust brown and a mat finish. Anyone have any guess? I sent an inquiry to Heritage auctions so we’ll see what they have to say. Total weight of this stone is 8lbs 9.2oz I think if my math is correct converts to 19,208ct. Be nice if it not treated stabilized color enhanced and of course actually turquoise?

[kac]

Looks real, did you find that?

[1515Art]

22 minutes ago, kac said:

Looks real, did you find that?

No, bought it from a friend of a friend we only paid $500 for it the guy we got it from got it years ago from his friend that’s what he paid at the time he got it. I don’t remember the whole story but supposedly the friend owned the mine or factory both possibly and it was friend price. The guy we got it from was just showing it off and my wife talked him into selling it to us plus we’d given him a good price on some other stuff so he just passed it on for what he was into it for. Just as you know sometime stories are just stories?

[1515Art]

Couple more we picked up and while I’m at it sent them over to the auction house to see if their worth anything? The amber chunk weighs 4lbs 3oz and is 11.5”x4”x7.5” 

the fluorite weighs in at 4lbs 13.2oz measuring 6.5”x3”x4.25” also from China 

see what heritage has to say and if we made a good buy?

[kac]

If they are fake then you got some fantastic paperweights for $500 hehe. I think they are real.

[1515Art]

Ahhh, some good meme material here... when life is a paper weight.

[1515Art]

This is the most informative guide I found grading although some of the the values seem unrealistic?

https://tskies.com/value-turquoise/

[DDancer]

To me it looks real.  As to your link on pricing its pretty close to the mark depending on how its graded.  I like the coloration however it's lighter blue than top grade turquoises, Bisbee Blue is one of them, but should it prove real it looks like very good quality.

[1515Art]

5 hours ago, DDancer said:

To me it looks real.  As to your link on pricing its pretty close to the mark depending on how its graded.  I like the coloration however it's lighter blue than top grade turquoises, Bisbee Blue is one of them, but should it prove real it looks like very good quality.

Well, recon I’ll find a different wheel chock for the Jeep until all this sorts out🤞  

[Glenn in CO]

On 2/17/2020 at 5:50 PM, 1515Art said:

The amber chunk weighs 4lbs 3oz and is 11.5”x4”x7.5” 

the fluorite weighs in at 4lbs 13.2oz measuring 6.5”x3”x4.25” also from China 

see what heritage has to say and if we made a good buy?

 

I'm very interested in your opinion and feedback on Heritage Auction when you hear back from them. I've never consider selling any gold specimens through an auction house before and would value anyone's experience in selling or consigning to a auction house good or bad. Gerry in Idaho also expressed interest in Heritage Auction in Mitchel's thread.  Gerry's Post